Just Like That

Summer is over!  Ryan went back to the local high school yesterday.  He was eager to get back to band. The first 3 hours of his day are in band.  The rest of his day is AP Literature, Honors Pre Calculus, US History, and Anatomy/Physiology.  He will be very busy with 3 evening band rehearsals, football games, and band competitions.  Here we go!

Grace, Trevor and I still have until August 10th before we launch our new adventure of online school.  I have been attending online training for the computer system that I must learn.  I feel well supported and ready.  We are working on getting our desks ready.  I purged a bunch of things.  Yay!

We have also continued to ride our bikes at least 25 miles a week.  The humidity has made riding a challenge, but we are not allowing it to stop us.  Last Saturday we rode over 12 miles on a trail in a town half an hour away with my parents.  I hope we can go back soon.

The garden is growing.  We cannot eat all the cherry tomatoes, so Jeff took some in to the office today.  I like that kind of problem.  I am hoping the big tomatoes will ripen soon, but not all at once.  The cucumbers have slowed way down.  I enjoyed making refrigerator pickles.

We went with Mom on an adventure to find our great grandparent's graves.  It had been awhile since we had been there, most likely when Grandpa died in the late 80's!  It is kind of far away, and we just don't get out there.  They are  in Heaven, anyway.  But it is nice to see that the graves are looked after.

Hope your summer is going well!

It's a Jungle

This glorious rain has produced quite a burst of green in our little garden boxes.  We even harvested an 8 inch cucumber this week.  I love growing things in a box.  There is no room for weeds.  The plants need less water.  And they produce lovely results.  Makes me want more garden boxes next year.  I certainly will not try to grow cucumbers on trellis'.  They need more room.  I was greedy.

The Pace of Life

Life is moving a long at full speed. Despite our school year winding down, we are pretty busy.  Last week, we finished AWANA.  We have agreed to be Trek directors again next year.  A big part of our decision came down to a major change for us. Jeff accepted a new position at a CPA firm 9 miles from home!!  Jeff won't have to drive 60 miles a day now.  He will be saving so much in gas and time.  As I am someone who craves stability and security, a new job brings anxiety, and a chance to trust the Lord!  He starts in June.

Ryan has started marching band!  He will be playing saxophone.  Last Saturday was kick off.  Do you know how much work goes into band?  That boy has made quite the commitment, and we are so proud of him. He will be learning saxophone on the fly.  He says it is not hard.  He is one happy kid!

Grace and I finally got our raised garden beds put together and filled.  Hers has marigolds, zinnias, and sun flowers.  Mine has tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, parsley, and catnip. A bunny ate two of the tomatoes and cucumbers.  I need a fence! It was such a joy to be able to have boxes again.  I am so thankful and grateful for my husband who helped make our dream come true!

We finish school Thursday.  These last days are the hardest.  We can smell freedom!!

Enjoying Life Again

Tax season is over!  (This was our 9th tax season, by the way.)   This is truly the best time of the year.

Grain free, sugar free, but still awesome!

Thrift find

To celebrate, Jeff received a four day weekend from his generous employer.  We made the most of every moment.  First we took 2 bikes to get tune ups.  Then, we worked very hard on our front and side garden beds.  We hand edged, moved plants around, mowed,and mulched.

Hard workers.

Edged, transplanted hostas, and mulched. 

Then we had friends over for dinner with lots of yummy healthy food.  We also rode our bikes.  We even found a patio table at a thrift store.  This week it will get painted.  And, we bought garden boxes to build as well.  Since it looks like we are going to stay here for awhile, we have decided to start making our backyard the way we would like to have it, a little bit at a time.

Hooray for spring!  In the past years, we have taken day trips to a favorite park, but this year we wanted to direct all our resources to our home and friends.  Either way, it was just a blessing to spend four days together!

Wordless Wednesday: Garden Girl

Peony Bliss

Peonies are my favorite spring-time flower.  Imagine my excitement when I saw that there are 3 bushes here.  Does anyone know what care they need?  I may have to do some research.  I'd like to give them a boost for next year. 

Garden Update No. 3

I've been wanting to post some updated pictures of our Learning Patch, but it has been so rainy lately, that I've had to put that off. Today, after many days, the sun returned! So, I ventured out with my camera.

Here is the current overview picture of our Learning Patch Garden (TM).

The green beans that we planted in the good soil are growing very well. 

The ones we planted in the ground a little later are not doing so well.  I think it has been too wet and we seem to have several bunnies that like our patch, too.  Next year, we will have a proper raised garden box and all will be well. 

We have a section of dandelion greens growing.  I read this today from Botanical.com,"The young leaves of the Dandelion make an agreeable and wholesome addition to spring salads and are often eaten on the Continent, especially in France."  (I am ahead of my time.) 

The compost is growing!  It's not baking, but it is increasing a lot.  The sun really needs to stay out for a long while. 

We bought some Catnip for our favorite feline.  I will plant it in a bigger pot soon. 

Here's a fun little story.  I let my garlic that I bought to use for cooking get away from me.  I noticed it's little green shoot and decided that if it wanted to grow, I'd stick it in some dirt.  I never expecte it to take off.  Look at it now. 

I think the lettuce needs thinned. 

The pretty yellow flowers are attracting butterflies. 

We were gifted some little Preying Mantis to release into our garden.  I am hoping they have made it.  Time will tell. 

Thank you for taking the time to look at our little learning patch! 

Garden Update No. 2

I appreciate all the great advice and encouragement I've been given about our little garden.  It made me realize that I did not have a clear picture in my mind as to what kind of a garden I wanted.  Of course, I had to decide that.  There are all sorts of types of gardens.  Why didn't I think of this in the first place?  So, with that in mind, we will now be turning our focus of the garden into an area for the kids to explore growing things. 

Today, with some muscle from my youngest two, we dug up an area 4'x3'.  We added left over sand and got rid of the weeds.  Then we took a 12" x12" plastic milk crate and used it to measure off one foot squares.  Into each square went 4 green bean seeds.  We watered them with the rain water we collected over the weekend.  Now we will wait. 

We also moved our compost pile again.  It is now in the middle where the sun shines most.  If we can swing it, I would like to add another row of squares to plant carrots.  We bought some seeds on sale last week.  My oldest wants pumpkins.  I am going to have to think about those.  I know they take a lot of room.  Maybe I can find another sunny spot for those on the side of the house.   

Anyway, all this to say, I am encouraged.  We are using what we have and I know it is going to teach us something!  Already I am grateful that I have this little plot of land to tend. 

It's kind of hard to see the squares, but they are there.